Chapter 12 - Chad Runs
Police searched for Chad.
His apartment was empty.
His phone was off.
His private plane had filed a flight plan to Nassau.
Marcus made one call.
The flight was held.
Chad never reached the airport.
That was worse.
Brooke sat in the hospital hallway beside Isabella.
Then Brooke said, “I’m sorry.”
Isabella looked at her.
“For what?”
“Tonight.”
Brooke almost laughed.
Then started crying.
“Yes.”
“And Ethan.”
“Yes.”
Brooke wiped her face.
“Do you always answer like that?”
Brooke nodded.
“I used to think being kind to staff made people look weak.”
Isabella looked at her.
“Who taught you that?”
“My mother.”
“Did it work for her?”
Brooke stared at the floor.
“No.”
Ethan heard the conversation from several feet away.
Marcus arrived.
“Fire marshal found accelerant near backup servers.”
“Data?”
“Primary research intact. Some finance archives damaged.”
“Convenient.”
“Yes.”
“What did Chad know was there?”
“Enough.”
Brooke stood.
Marcus said, “Police checked.”
“Not that one.”
Brooke swallowed.
“There’s another property. Held under my mother’s trust.”
Ethan studied her.
“You kept that from police?”
Isabella raised an eyebrow.
Brooke sighed.
“Fine. I didn’t want my family dragged further into this.”
Ethan’s face hardened.
Brooke looked at Isabella.
Shame hit.
She nodded.
“You’re right.”
Police moved.
Two hours later, Chad was arrested leaving the property with a laptop and three passport envelopes.
Not only between Chad and Martin.
Between Chad and Brooke.
Brooke stared at the subject line.
PROJECT VANCE.
Ethan looked at the sender address.
It was hers.
But Marcus checked the metadata.
Account accessed from Sterling headquarters.
Someone had been using Brooke’s email.
Then Brooke looked at her father’s name.
“Dad.”
May you like
No one answered.
Because everyone thought the same thing.
